UK Music Curricula — Quick Reference

England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland music outcomes, Early Years to Key Stage 2.

England — National Curriculum for Music (2014)

Foundation

ENG-EYFS-1Sing a range of nursery rhymes and songs, joining in with the words and actions
ENG-EYFS-2Explore and play instruments, showing an awareness of sound and how it is produced
ENG-EYFS-3Listen attentively, move to, and talk about music

Year 1-2

ENG-KS1-MU1Use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
ENG-KS1-MU2Play tuned and untuned instruments musically
ENG-KS1-MU3Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
ENG-KS1-MU4Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music

Year 3-4

ENG-KS2-MU1Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
ENG-KS2-MU2Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
ENG-KS2-MU3Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
ENG-KS2-MU4Use and understand staff and other musical notations
ENG-KS2-MU5Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
ENG-KS2-MU6Develop an understanding of the history of music

Year 5-6

ENG-KS2-MU1Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
ENG-KS2-MU2Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
ENG-KS2-MU3Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
ENG-KS2-MU4Use and understand staff and other musical notations
ENG-KS2-MU5Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
ENG-KS2-MU6Develop an understanding of the history of music

Scotland — Curriculum for Excellence (Expressive Arts: Music)

Foundation

EXA 0-01aI enjoy singing and playing along to music and can respond to music in different ways
EXA 0-02aI have experimented with ways of making sounds using my voice, body and a range of musical instruments
EXA 0-03aI can create music to show my understanding of a particular topic or theme
EXA 0-04aI can respond to music by describing my thoughts and feelings about the music I hear
EXA 0-05aI can sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures
EXA 0-06aI can listen to music from a range of styles and cultures and respond in different ways
EXA 0-07aI can express my feelings and ideas about music from different styles and cultures
EXA 0-08aI can explore and experiment with different ways of making music
EXA 0-09aI can use my voice and a range of instruments to create music
EXA 0-10aI can perform music for an audience

Year 1-2

EXA 1-01aI enjoy singing and playing along to music and can respond to music in different ways
EXA 1-02aI have experimented with ways of making sounds using my voice, body and a range of musical instruments
EXA 1-03aI can create music to show my understanding of a particular topic or theme
EXA 1-04aI can respond to music by describing my thoughts and feelings about the music I hear
EXA 1-05aI can sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures
EXA 1-06aI can listen to music from a range of styles and cultures and respond in different ways
EXA 1-07aI can express my feelings and ideas about music from different styles and cultures
EXA 1-08aI can explore and experiment with different ways of making music
EXA 1-09aI can use my voice and a range of instruments to create music
EXA 1-10aI can perform music for an audience
EXA 1-11aI can respond to the music of others
EXA 1-12aI can use music to express my ideas and feelings
EXA 1-13aI can create, present and evaluate a performance
EXA 1-14aI can use music technology to create and record music
EXA 1-15aI can discuss the features of music from different styles and cultures
EXA 1-16aI can use my understanding of music to develop my own ideas
EXA 1-17aI can explore the expressive arts and be inspired by them
EXA 1-18aI can take part in drama and musical performances

Year 3-4

EXA 1-01aI enjoy singing and playing along to music and can respond to music in different ways
EXA 1-03aI can create music to show my understanding of a particular topic or theme
EXA 1-04aI can respond to music by describing my thoughts and feelings about the music I hear
EXA 1-05aI can sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures
EXA 1-10aI can perform music for an audience
EXA 1-13aI can create, present and evaluate a performance
EXA 1-16aI can use my understanding of music to develop my own ideas
EXA 1-18aI can take part in drama and musical performances

Year 5-6

EXA 2-01aI enjoy singing and playing along to music and can respond to music in different ways
EXA 2-02aI have experimented with ways of making sounds using my voice, body and a range of musical instruments
EXA 2-03aI can create music to show my understanding of a particular topic or theme
EXA 2-04aI can respond to music by describing my thoughts and feelings about the music I hear
EXA 2-05aI can sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures
EXA 2-06aI can listen to music from a range of styles and cultures and respond in different ways
EXA 2-07aI can express my feelings and ideas about music from different styles and cultures
EXA 2-08aI can explore and experiment with different ways of making music
EXA 2-09aI can use my voice and a range of instruments to create music
EXA 2-10aI can perform music for an audience
EXA 2-11aI can respond to the music of others
EXA 2-12aI can use music to express my ideas and feelings
EXA 2-13aI can create, present and evaluate a performance
EXA 2-14aI can use music technology to create and record music
EXA 2-15aI can discuss the features of music from different styles and cultures
EXA 2-16aI can use my understanding of music to develop my own ideas
EXA 2-17aI can explore the expressive arts and be inspired by them
EXA 2-18aI can take part in drama and musical performances
EXA 2-19aI can contribute to the planning of a performance
EXA 2-20aI can work with others to create a performance

Wales — Curriculum for Wales (2022) — Expressive Arts

Foundation

WAL-PS1-EA1Explore sound through voice, body percussion, and simple instruments
WAL-PS1-EA2Respond to music through movement and describe what they hear
WAL-PS1-EA3Create simple sound patterns and short musical phrases
WAL-PS1-EA4Sing simple songs from memory and join in with musical activities
WAL-PS1-EA5Share music with others and respond to the music of others

Year 1-2

WAL-PS2-EA1Explore and create sound using voice, body percussion, and instruments with increasing control
WAL-PS2-EA2Respond to music through movement, drawing, and description, using appropriate vocabulary
WAL-PS2-EA3Create rhythmic and melodic patterns and short musical phrases
WAL-PS2-EA4Sing songs from memory with increasing accuracy and expression
WAL-PS2-EA5Perform music for others and respond to the music of others with respect
WAL-PS2-EA6Explore music from different cultures and traditions in Wales and beyond
WAL-PS2-EA7Use simple notation to record musical ideas

Year 3-4

WAL-PS3-EA1Explore and create sound using voice, body percussion, and instruments with increasing control and technique
WAL-PS3-EA2Respond to and describe music using appropriate musical vocabulary
WAL-PS3-EA3Create rhythmic and melodic compositions using notation
WAL-PS3-EA4Sing and perform music from memory with increasing accuracy, expression, and confidence
WAL-PS3-EA5Perform music for an audience and evaluate the performance
WAL-PS3-EA6Explore and describe music from different cultures, traditions, and historical periods
WAL-PS3-EA7Use standard and/or graphic notation to record and communicate musical ideas

Year 5-6

WAL-PS3-EA1Explore and create sound using voice, body percussion, and instruments with increasing control and technique
WAL-PS3-EA2Respond to and describe music using appropriate musical vocabulary
WAL-PS3-EA3Create rhythmic and melodic compositions using notation
WAL-PS3-EA4Sing and perform music from memory with increasing accuracy, expression, and confidence
WAL-PS3-EA5Perform music for an audience and evaluate the performance
WAL-PS3-EA6Explore and describe music from different cultures, traditions, and historical periods
WAL-PS3-EA7Use standard and/or graphic notation to record and communicate musical ideas
WAL-PS3-EA8Use music technology to create, record, and manipulate sound

Northern Ireland Curriculum — Music

Foundation

NI-F-MU1Explore and experiment with sound using voice, body percussion, and simple instruments
NI-F-MU2Sing simple songs and rhymes and join in with musical activities
NI-F-MU3Respond to music through movement and describe what they hear
NI-F-MU4Create simple sound patterns and short musical phrases

Year 1-2

NI-KS1-MU1Sing and perform with increasing confidence and expression
NI-KS1-MU2Play tuned and untuned instruments with control and rhythmic accuracy
NI-KS1-MU3Listen to and respond to a range of music, expressing preferences
NI-KS1-MU4Create and combine sounds to make short musical pieces
NI-KS1-MU5Explore music from different cultures and traditions
NI-KS1-MU6Use simple notation to record musical ideas

Year 3-4

NI-KS2-MU1Sing and perform in solo and ensemble contexts with increasing accuracy, fluency, control, and expression
NI-KS2-MU2Play instruments with increasing technical control and rhythmic accuracy
NI-KS2-MU3Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes
NI-KS2-MU4Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
NI-KS2-MU5Use and understand staff and other musical notations
NI-KS2-MU6Appreciate and understand a wide range of music from different traditions and composers
NI-KS2-MU7Develop an understanding of the history of music

Year 5-6

NI-KS2-MU1Sing and perform in solo and ensemble contexts with increasing accuracy, fluency, control, and expression
NI-KS2-MU2Play instruments with increasing technical control and rhythmic accuracy
NI-KS2-MU3Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes
NI-KS2-MU4Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
NI-KS2-MU5Use and understand staff and other musical notations
NI-KS2-MU6Appreciate and understand a wide range of music from different traditions and composers
NI-KS2-MU7Develop an understanding of the history of music

Sources: England National Curriculum for Music (2014); Scotland Curriculum for Excellence; Curriculum for Wales (2022); Northern Ireland Curriculum.

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